Or at least, in my opinion it is!!! Idk, it seems as if the versions I had gotten use to were much later versions that were a little slower but longer. And when I first heard this version, I listened to it over & over & over again This is without a doubt the "smokinest" I've ever heard! It's short but very, very sweet. They played a similar version 4 days b4 at The Omni. But still, the one here Jerry does a much better lead solo. Jerry was evidently feeling good & he rips & tears it to shreads!!!! And it sounds like he using a wawa peddle too but I'm not sure cuz Jerry always had his own special effects built into the guitar so it could just be one of those. Lots of LOVE, peoples!! 🌈💞👍💥✌🎶🎵🎶🎵💕🎶🎵🎶🎵🤪🌙👏👏👏🍥🌈💞

DEC 18, 2020- 47 YEARS AGO TODAY!!! This was one of those shows that I can't hear too many times! I keep coming back to this one. I've even got it bookmarked along with a bunch of others that I love.

This is an absolutely amazing show and everything I love about 73' Dead.

As others have noted, this is a beauty of a show. Great era. Beautiful sound. Nearly flawless. The patches almost improve the quality of the show. The WRS>DS>Eyes is an obvious standout but the rest of the show is played really well--I dig the TLEO. The band feels really laid-back, in the pocket.

Unique 1st set and over the top 2nd set.
While I miss Donna Jean in the mix
the boys come to play.
Laid back and loose from the stage
"would you rather hear White Rabbit"-Phil
Jams are blissfully wonderful
and Phil is seriously turned up to 11
(check out EOTW>Slip)
Sweet
Mama
Daydream..

It was -2 here in Northern Illinois this morning when I came into work and I needed something to help warm up. After a bit of snooping on AdO, I went with this hot number. It's a nice way to help warm up the winter! Love It!!!

Jed is an unorthodox opener. SQ is perfect, Keith is ready to play. Good effort.
MAMU is full of energy, keeping things going nicely.
Don't Ease actually loses some steam, which made it doubly annoying.
LLR came in under bad auspices, but was actually musically well done.
TLEO came out next, Jerry's call. It's plenty groovy. Don't know what the bonehead on archive who said the 1st set was lame was on.
McGee starts off as a regression. It's a decent enough version.
BEW starts off after they fix the piano, while Bob tells some absurd story.It's got a great energy.
BIODTL has the energy sustained
Peggy-O in its 3rd voyage. Sounds pretty, they are still feeling it out, you can tell. It's a go, all things considered.
El Paso will ensure we don't lapse into complacence. Noodles begin right off the bat. This one is great, sassy Jerry and Keith.
Deal is short and sweet! Powerful, Jerry is again being tough!
Jack Straw is better than most from this period! Noodles and power playing.
China>Rider is great! This China Cat offers a great jam that I usually consider reserved till the Rider portion. In fact, most of this jam is China Cat, until like 7:15. Unfortunate patch in Rider. Strong final jam!

PLand>Bertha>gset starts off the 2nd set with all you would expect. Jerry is belting out the Bertha lyrics. The full team attack is going, Bob is a bit low in the mix. GSET is fully awesome and wah wahed out. It has an interesting cascading jam at 3:30 that then goes back into full blown energy. Homerun.
Row Jimmy is decent, I've heard better in this period to be sure.
WRS>LIG>DS>MLB>DS>DRUMS>EYES>WHARF>SUGAR, quite a sequence! Beautiful WRS, and major energy in the LIG, by 11 minutes into it they have really done some good stuff, there is a short reprise, and then they go into hyperspeed! Dark Star has a slightly MLB them at some point between verses. AFter the second verse, it goes into feedback while Jer noodles slowly underneath it, almost like watery whale calls at one point. Out of nowhere Jer takes us to a Tiger!!! No one else mentions that, it's short, but nice and powerful out of the space/feedback. This disintegrates into drums...
Out of drums we have Eyes! It comes in with no frills, typical intro jingle. First jam is rather jazzed with Jerry doing some nice leads. Phil has some solo work in one of the later jams of the song, well played, sir. However, Jerry seems to have been out? Maybe he busted a string. Bob and Phil definitely have a bigger role, then Jerry comes back as they head to the quasi-Slipknot theme jam, after which Jerry takes fully charge again.
They turn on a dime to head into Wharf Rat. Beautifully played! Everyone is in the right place on the right tempo. Flawless, other than the AUD patch, which really isn't bad.
Sugarmags to finish up the sequence maintains.

The UJB, seems at a lower volume? Patch? It's not an AUD patch if it is, and Miller didn't note any patch here. The jamming could be a bit faster, though it does get better in the later jam action. This is a great song for an encore, but energy is down... of course... overall...

A high energy show!

SQ is amazing!

Former Grateful Dead archivist Dick Latvala (R.I.P.), selected the following night (12/19) to be released as the debut of what became known as the Dick's Picks series. While I have no qualms with that decision (the HERE COMES SUNSHINE from that night is worth the price of admission alone), I'd rate this night as being just as rewarding.

While I offer no constructive criticism for the first set, this night is clearly all about the second set that follows it. Jerry walks onto the stage and jokingly remarks that "the rest of the band couldn't make it for this set" before a jeering crowd. Jerry's seemingly jovial mood seems to serve him well, as he offers some of his best playing of the year during this set. (I've read and listened to interviews where Jerry alludes to being nervous as a cat before going on the stage. If that was the case, he does a swell job of masking it here, as he commands this set with utter confidence and competence.) Hats off to you, "captain trips"!

The finest hour of the evening undoubtedly occurs during the segue that runs as follows: WEATHER REPORT SUITE->DARK STAR->DRUMS->EYES OF THE WORLD->WHARF RAT. This WRS is arguably the best of the year, and with possible exception of 9/11, certainly the jazziest (the interplay between Jerry & Bobby is stupendous). There is an AUD patch around the 14:20 mark, lasting approximately a minute, but hardly seems like a blemish thanks to Charlie Miller’s magic touch.

The Dead, alas, retired for the year after the 12/19 show. It’s seems curious as to why they didn’t squeeze in a few more dates and finished with a new year show like they did in '72. (Perhaps being on the east coast, the travel time back to Cali was factored in, and squeezing in more dates would seem over ambitious.) The Dead were riding a consistent sound wave in late '73 that they were never to quite hit the likes of again. It seems a pity that didn't play a few more shows that we can only speculate how extraordinary they could have been. Still, we must be thankful for what we do have, and realize the boys were well deserving of a break, and an opportunity to relax with loved ones for the holidays. Well done, boys!

P.S. The DS contains a suddle, yet sweet "Mind Left Body Jam". Listen and dig it, folks!

ditto 2 all positive reviews- Truth!

A perfect show from start to finish! Many, many highlights but the run of WRS>DS>Eyes is beyond belief. One of my favourite WRS - Jerry's soloing on the Let it Grow section could be among his best.

I was just a sophomore in high school when I went to this show, my first. Little did I know then that I'd be seeing 24 more shows before it was over. Great job of preserving.

Icredible show and a perfect rremaster by C Miller. Some people want to buy Charlie a drink. I'd like to buy him a whole distillery!

Gratest story ever told! absolutely on fire, super show, just half way through and its rockin

I only saw 4 shows here in UK. Bickershaw Fest72.10 sept.74 at Ally Pally.21 march 81at Rainbow & Halloween 1990 at Wembley.I love the Keith & Donna one drummer period and this show must rank as one of the best.

The audience patches show how strong the audience recording mix is, one of my all time favorite audience recordings - not necessarily the clearest or anything, and I know the balance is off, but it's full and powerful, so much more like being at a show. I know everybody loves a crisp soundboard, but can someone upload the audience tape of this show? I lost my SA-90 a long time ago.....

Grate show! get it!

they only opened with Jed on two other occasions, on 9-17-73 and 6-29-76.......

second set rips...

Nicely preserved soundboard, good stereo sound field, good performance

how many times they opened with tennessee jed? i dont think i have ever heard them open with it other than this show but i havent sifted through any setlist databases to check yet.

And more.

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5 stars for the mix
5 stars for the recording
5 stars for the performance
5 stars for the Charlie Miller Transfer

Mellow, intense, deliberate, smooth and relaxed are just some of the ways I'd describe this show.

Billy's playing is in the pocket. China Cat Sunflower is funky.

I highly recommend adding this show to your 1973 GRATEFUL DEAD collection.

Charlie did it again, another audio "Masterpiece".
Thank you Mr. Miller.

Get it while you can, get it while it's free, get it now or you'll be sorry...

Eat, Drink, Be Merry and Listen to the GRATEFUL DEAD.

Thanks for the LOVE from 1973, my senior year in HS.

PS: Charlie Miller must be one heck of a human being to share these shows with the loving fans of the GRATEFUL DEAD. He is an inspiration to me. Maybe there was some truth to the 60's?

THE MUSIC LIVES THANKS TO CHARLIE MILLER!!!!

LONG LIVE THE MUSIC, AND LONG LIVE CHARLIE MILLER!!!!!

Dick picked the wrong Curtis Hixon show!

Although the first set moves a bit slowly, this is truly a special performance. Jazzed out to the max and packed with slashing leads from Weir, this is easily among the very best shows of 1973, and definately one of the best sounding files archived here!

The China/Rider segue, though mellow, is extremely well jammed, and the WRS/Let it Grow combo is as jazzy as any played. Is that Becker and Fagan sitting in?

One of the better Dark Stars of '73, complete with a terrifying feedback segment, and the amazing Weir/Lesh interplay during Eyes of the World (where is Jer?), make this one rather unique and very special. (99+ pts)

charlie miller is the man and this music is a gift from god